Haaland's Injury Woes: Who Will Step Up for Manchester City Against AEK Athens?

Erling Haaland has been on fire for Manchester City this season, netting eight league goals already. However, the club is now facing the possibility of his absence for Tuesday's Champions League showdown against AEK Athens. The Norwegian striker lit up Saturday's match against Ipswich Town, scoring twice in a thrilling 3-2 win, but he suffered a foot injury during the game. This has left him in doubt for the crucial European encounter at the Etihad Stadium, especially after City’s recent setback against Paris St-Germain, where they lost 4-2. "Replacing Erling is never easy, but we have several options at our disposal," said manager Enzo Maresca. "It really comes down to our game plan. For now, Erling is our number nine, so we’ll only consider alternatives if we absolutely have to." Should Haaland be unable to play, Maresca faces a tricky choice in selecting a forward. The situation is further complicated by Antoine Semenyo’s eight-week injury to his left knee sustained against Ipswich, leaving City without a natural backup for Haaland. Haaland has been a scoring machine, hitting the net in six straight games and helping City maintain a perfect record in their first seven league matches. He recently achieved his 100th non-penalty goal in the Premier League in record time, demonstrating his importance to the team. Maresca mentioned that while Haaland "can be available" for the clash, his condition will be evaluated after training on Monday, although the manager noted that the striker seemed "quite good" on Sunday. Finding a suitable replacement is no easy task. Both Julian Alvarez and Omar Marmoush have struggled to fill Haaland's shoes in the past, and it was surprising when Divin Mubama was loaned out to Southampton, leaving City short on forward options. Maresca had previously indicated that Semenyo could play the central role, but with him sidelined for several weeks, that strategy is no longer viable. One name that could come into play is midfielder Phil Foden, who finally broke his scoring drought with a goal against Ipswich. "Phil could be one of the solutions," Maresca said. "He has played in that position before, but right now our main focus is on Erling." Another potential option is summer signing Iliman Ndiaye, who proved his worth as a striker during his time at Sheffield United, scoring 14 goals in their promotion-winning campaign last season. Additionally, Pep Guardiola has previously praised Rayan Cherki for his ability to play as a false nine, as evidenced by his goal in a Carabao Cup match. The injury to Semenyo adds another layer of complexity. He came on as a substitute but was seen limping off immediately after the game, leading to early fears of a severe injury. Fortunately, a scan revealed it might only be a knee collateral issue, and he could be back around December, which could provide City with a fresh option. Jeremy Doku is expected to retain his position on the left side of the attack in Semenyo’s absence, as City prepares to tackle AEK Athens in a pivotal match.